Senate, House Pass $50 Billion Budgets

April 5, 2000|By MARK HOLLIS and JOHN KENNEDY Tallahassee Bureau

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House and Senate passed vastly different $50 billion state budgets Tuesday, setting the stage for several weeks of negotiations that will be dominated by debate over tax cuts and spending for public schools and road construction.

With tax-filing season under way and election-year politics influencing the Legislature's agenda, the House set aside almost $700 million for tax breaks -- about $400 million more than the Senate.

Substantial differences between House and Senate spending plans for education and transportation -- two areas that voters have told pollsters are important this year -- must be settled as well.

The Senate would put almost $300 million more than the House into building new roads and bridges, mainly in urban areas. There is another $300 million difference between what the two chambers' recommend in spending for schools.

The Senate advanced its version of the budget Tuesday on a 36-0 vote without discussion. The House approved its plan 112-3, though several Democrats said they voted for it in hopes that the House will move closer to the Senate position during conference committee talks, which begin Thursday.

Overall, the two sides are $1.3 billion apart.

For their part, senators scoffed at the House spending plan. Some criticized House members for earmarking dollars for tax breaks, transportation and Everglades restoration without considering the needed legislation.

Senate President Toni Jennings, R-Orlando, called the House plan a "bowl of Jell-O."

In trying to push the House closer to the Senate, Democrats argued that the strong economy demands that Florida spend more for teacher salaries and construction of new classrooms.

"For all Floridians who believe this Legislature has a moral and legal obligation and duty to provide the best possible education for our children, this budget does not go far enough," said Rep. Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach.

Republicans defended the spending plan, noting that they are setting aside $2.4 billion in savings even as they put more than $1 billion of new money into education.

"Just because you have the money there doesn't mean you have to spend it," said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie. "Just like we tell children, we're being prudent."

But Senate Budget Chairman Locke Burt, R-Ormond Beach, said the differences may be difficult to resolve.

The Senate, for example, is looking to overhaul the state's public employees pension fund and using $241 million in anticipated savings to increase education dollars.

The House has rejected the plan, with members condemning the proposal as a risky raid on the Florida Retirement System.

"There are some issues on which you just can't split the difference," Burt said.

House Republicans described their budget bills as a "foundation for prosperity" and a "budget of the future," and predicted few problems reaching agreement before the session ends on May 5.

"We have some philosophical differences with some of our Democratic members, and perhaps, we have some philosophical differences with the Senate," said House Speaker John Thrasher, R-Orange Park. "But I have a great relationship with the Senate president, and I believe strongly in the conference process."

Democrats, however, attacked the House spending proposal, saying money needs to be set aside for hiring new teachers and raising their salaries.

House Republican leaders said they did not want to take away spending authority from county school boards by specifying what teachers should earn.

"We can either abolish the school boards and micromanage them, or we can trust them," said Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo.

The Senate budget earmarks $60 million for recruiting and retaining public school educators.

"If we want the brightest and best in the classroom, let's pay them right," said Rep. Les Miller, a Tampa Democrat and the House minority leader. "Let's think about the young kids. Let's think about the future."

Mark Hollis can be reached at mhollis@sun-sentinel.com or at 850-224-6214.